Perennial poll topper Willie O'Dea has dismissed claims in local media that he was not fully behind his running mate on the Fianna Fáil ticket, Cllr James Collins.

Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe has said independent analysis of Sinn Féin's divisive 'no consent, no sale' bill, targeting better protection of mortgage holders, is "essential" before it is allowed to further progress through the Oireachtas.

Judges and the legal profession are to be asked to explain the high costs of compensation claims as TDs attempt to uncover reasons behind costly insurance premiums faced by consumers.

FBD Insurance has accused the legal profession of being solely responsible for exorbitant premiums for businesses as it defended its 41% rise in profits last year.

A number of government ministers who lost their seats last weekend are planning to run for Seanad Éireann in next month's elections.

Limerick TD, Kieran O'Donnell, believes series of simple and practical measures that can ensure the issue of mortgage distress will be underpinned by the goal of saving the family home where at all possible.  

Taoiseach Enda Kenny took refuge inside a hotel for over three hours as he came under further fire last night from water charges demonstrators.

The Government has confirmed the names of the seven TDs who will conduct the Oireachtas banking inquiry.

The HSE says it may be necessary to call the Gardaí to discuss financial arrangements at the Central Remedial Clinic.

The Public Accounts Committee will be grilling members of the Red Cross this morning to find out how €160,000 was found to be resting in an undeclared account three years after the funds were donated.

With all bar four of the 43 constituencies in the General Election finished counting, the country’s political scene has undergone a sea change.

Former Minister for Tourism Mary Hanafin has failed to retain her seat in Dun Laoghaire. Richard Boyd Barrett won the seat, bringing the haul of seats for Independents and others to 17.

The election of Fine Gael's Mary Mitchell O'Connor in Dun Laoghaire brings to 141 the total number of seats filled so far (from a total of 166).

There are 70 seats filled so far.

Fine Gael's Kieran O'Donnell has been elected in Limerick City.

Fine Gael's Michael Noonan looks set to top the poll in Limerick City, with 20.7% of the vote.

Fine Gael has said that the Government "left it too late" to seek independent advice on the introduction of a bank guarantee scheme.

Richard Bruton this evening made an eleventh hour appeal to Enda Kenny not to go ahead with tomorrow's vote of confidence, and instead to step down as Fine Gael leader.

Enda Kenny's position as leader of Fine Gael was coming under increasing pressure this evening as yet more parliamentary party members said they will not be supporting him.

Enda Kenny has suffered a crushing blow this afternoon with confirmation that the man whom he appointed as Caretaker Finance Spokesman only 48 hours ago, has pledged his support to Richard Bruton.

The acting Finance Spokesman for Fine Gael, appointed by Enda Kenny less than 48 hours ago, is thought to be on the brink of announcing that he supports Richard Bruton in the Fine Gael leadership battle.

Minister for Finance Brian Lenihan will today reveal a massive multibillion-euro masterplan to clean up the financial mess in the country's banking system.

Fine Gael has slammed the Government's apparent plan to backdate the budget increase in income levies to the start of the year.

Minister for Transport Noel Dempsey has revealed that his department officials failed to inform him for six weeks that Aer Lingus was planning to scrap its Shannon-Heathrow service.

Former Fine Gael leader Michael Noonan and Cllr Kieran O’Donnell will contest the next general election for Fine Gael in the Limerick East constituency.